Fernando Gonzalez proved there is more to Chilean tennis than Marcelo Rios when he reached the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time.
The 22-year-old from Santiago dispatched Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 on centre court on Sunday to set up a last-eight meeting with Spanish third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. Former world number one Rios twice reached the last eight at Roland Garros -- in 1998 and 1999 -- but has since dropped to number 42 in the rankings and withdrew from this year's French Open due to injury. Gonzalez, the 19th seed and world number 20, showed he was ready to pick up the mantle last year when he reached the last eight of the U.S. Open before falling to Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, his injury-hit third-round victim at Roland Garros this year. The Chilean needed only 92 minutes to see off his Finnish opponent on Monday with a scintillating claycourt display under drab skies in the French capital. His clash with Ferrero, last year's losing finalist, is a rematch of the 1998 boys singles final at Roland Garros which he won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Gonzalez also beat Ferrero twice last year. "I remember that (boys final). It was a long time ago. I was 17. Now I am 22. But it is going to be a very interesting match because Juan Carlos is playing very good tennis and I'm playing well," Gonzalez said. "It will be a difficult match for both of us. "We know that he is one of the best on clay. I have great respect for him as a claycourter. But I'm confident in my game too. It will be a good show for the public. "I am delighted just to be playing against people like Juan Carlos in front of a huge crowd. It's going to be a magnificent experience." If the 22-year-old beats Ferrero again he will become only the second Chilean to reach the last four of a Grand Slam event. Rios reached the final of the 1998 Australian Open.Juan Carlos Ferrero continued his love affair with the red dirt, easily eliminating countryman Felix Mantilla in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 to advance to his fourth consecutive French Open quarter final.
